Pearls Before Swine

Our character Rat approaches his friend Goat, who is typing away at his computer...

Rat: Hey Goat, you writing your blog?

Goat: Go away, Rat.

R: You know, I like blogs... I really do... you know why?

G: Go away Rat.

R: Because they provide their frustrated creator with the delusional outlet of being a published author. Sort of like how the prison warden lets the psychotic inmate scribble 'poetry' on the cell wall so he doesn't beat his bunkmate with a toilet seat.

Goat smashes his coffee cup over Rat's head.

Rat concludes: Perhaps you didn't like the analogy.

Thank you, Stephan Pastis!!! (It's better with the drawings, I promise).

Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!

Christmas Greetings to All!

I know, I know. I can hear you saying, "It's not even December yet!!" But I don't possess as much self restraint as some. I just want to wish everyone a super-duper holiday season. (I am blaming all my overt enthusiasm on 5 hours of blaring Christmas music while driving in the car on Thanksgiving Day).

As for November 22, I got to see my cousins & all their cute little kids. I love holding the little ones as they squirm around on my lap, and I rally to the ever-famous cry of childhood, "Do it again!" Though when the day is done, I also love handing them back to their parents.

I suppose the highlight of my Turkey Day was eating Aunt Audrey's black-bottom pie. You have not lived until you have eaten Aunt Audrey's black-bottom pie. I expect her to live forever so she can keep making this treat.

We also played Euchre (no blood was shed) and Apple to Apples... who knew "beer bellies" could be "dainty?" My brother brought out the antlers to the 10-point buck he just shot to show off. (you might be a redneck if...) I also didn't know you could deep fry a whole turkey. (Jeff Foxworthy, look out!)

And that was my Thanksgiving.

feel the slip and the grip of grace again*

God has been gracious to me these past couple of weeks.

The hurting drives me closer to Him, to seek His face. I have felt His comfort, more dear to me in the winter, than the carefree months of summer. I have seen His hand guiding me through the recent days... He has answered prayers swiftly. He is teaching me how deal with my anger. He is showing me how truly loving He can be.

I would not have chosen to walk this path, but He is leading me, carrying me.

One set of footprints.

If it had not been for this detour, I would not have experienced God's faithfulness. I have seen His loving provision. I have been brought closer to the Father, not through anything I did, but through His grace. He is holding me.

PreciousLambofGod.

And the anger is subsiding. The hurt is less than is was a few weeks ago.

God has been gracious to me.

Will you forgive, will you forget, will you live what you know? He left his rights, will you leave yours? You can't understand it, let it go. Beneath the Cross, you hear Him say, "Father forgive them" and you know, you can't understand it, let it go. ~Newsboys

*Over the Rhine